The history of the Geelong Art Society.
In 1945 Milton Webb, Lois Hyett and Florence Quick came together to form a sketch club. Numbers and interest grew and in 1947 a meeting was held to discuss the formation of an Art Society.
The Society first met at 84 Yarra St Geelong where they shared the grand, three storey building with the Geelong Association of Music and Art (GAMA). The members, 27 in all, had to toil up the narrow steps, past stored merchandise and masses of maturing cheeses.
The first outdoor art show in March, 1954 in Johnstone Park was opened by William Dargie. Over 200 paintings were on show. Throughout the fifties the members painted the backdrops for many GAMA productions, raised money and supported children’s art as well as conducting art shows and lectures.
In May 1957 when the studio at 84 Yarra St had to be vacated, the Geelong Art Gallery offered the use of a portion of their storage basement to the Art Society. This new studio was in need of refurbishing so to raise money the society held an art competition with a Florence Quick watercolour as the prize. The Art gallery made a bay in the McPhillimy Gallery available for the display of selected works by members.
The 1958 Outdoor Art Show, opened by Miss Margaret Rutherford, the noted English actress, was supported by the Geelong City Council and this art show was a key event of the Geelong Festival for many years.
In May 1958 the Society was required to vacate the basement space in the Art Gallery. It accepted an offer to share a meeting room at the GAMA Theatre. In 1968 the Society was allocated a room at GAMA for their sole use and furnished it through various fundraising activities. Life drawing and portrait groups were part of a productive community.
At this time the Geelong and the Royal Commonwealth Society received paintings on loan from the Society to decorate their walls. A further loan scheme was launched and handled by the Geelong Regional Library. Members supplied a picture bank from which borrowers could obtain on loan a painting of their choice for two dollars/month.
The Society raised funds for many worthwhile causes such as the National Trust and Save The Children’s Fund. They designed Repertory sets and costumes and began a painting and craft activity for patients at Grace McKellar.
In the eighties the Society became a completely autonomous body. Membership increased rapidly. With dedicated office bearers and committee, the search for a suitable studio and meeting place was solved when the Geelong West City Council made the premises at Sparrow Park available.
The Shearer’s Arms gallery which dated back to 1847 was acquired by the Society in1987 and is now its base.
The Society first met at 84 Yarra St Geelong where they shared the grand, three storey building with the Geelong Association of Music and Art (GAMA). The members, 27 in all, had to toil up the narrow steps, past stored merchandise and masses of maturing cheeses.
The first outdoor art show in March, 1954 in Johnstone Park was opened by William Dargie. Over 200 paintings were on show. Throughout the fifties the members painted the backdrops for many GAMA productions, raised money and supported children’s art as well as conducting art shows and lectures.
In May 1957 when the studio at 84 Yarra St had to be vacated, the Geelong Art Gallery offered the use of a portion of their storage basement to the Art Society. This new studio was in need of refurbishing so to raise money the society held an art competition with a Florence Quick watercolour as the prize. The Art gallery made a bay in the McPhillimy Gallery available for the display of selected works by members.
The 1958 Outdoor Art Show, opened by Miss Margaret Rutherford, the noted English actress, was supported by the Geelong City Council and this art show was a key event of the Geelong Festival for many years.
In May 1958 the Society was required to vacate the basement space in the Art Gallery. It accepted an offer to share a meeting room at the GAMA Theatre. In 1968 the Society was allocated a room at GAMA for their sole use and furnished it through various fundraising activities. Life drawing and portrait groups were part of a productive community.
At this time the Geelong and the Royal Commonwealth Society received paintings on loan from the Society to decorate their walls. A further loan scheme was launched and handled by the Geelong Regional Library. Members supplied a picture bank from which borrowers could obtain on loan a painting of their choice for two dollars/month.
The Society raised funds for many worthwhile causes such as the National Trust and Save The Children’s Fund. They designed Repertory sets and costumes and began a painting and craft activity for patients at Grace McKellar.
In the eighties the Society became a completely autonomous body. Membership increased rapidly. With dedicated office bearers and committee, the search for a suitable studio and meeting place was solved when the Geelong West City Council made the premises at Sparrow Park available.
The Shearer’s Arms gallery which dated back to 1847 was acquired by the Society in1987 and is now its base.
Where to find the Geelong Art Society